Queens Wharf Proposals
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This page is about the possibilities presented to Auckland by Queens Wharf. In 2007 pressure mounted on Auckland's Port Company to get off Queens Wharf - regularly used to land second hand Japanese car imports - and make it available for other purposes.
Top of the list of some has been that it should be Auckland's main Cruise Ship terminal - supplementing the role played by Princes Wharf. Government agencies have also been enthusiastic to see Auckland's CBD given an economic stimulus by development of this kind. However - as often is the case - it comes down to money: who will pay; and who will get to control the facility.
Whereas many interested members of the public see much bigger opportunities for Auckland - including how appropriate Queens Wharf redevelopment will trigger the comprehensive redevelopment of the Britomart Precinct. Queens Wharf could also be the harbour gateway to Auckland....



Above: various enhanced images of Auckland's waterfront - emphasising Queens Wharf - imagining a future where Auckland makes a good chunk of its own electrical energy, reducing its demand for electricity generated outside the region, reducing its ecological footprint, as well as selling that message to the world. Of course the view from inside the generating room - housing a restaurant - and the lift experience would be spectacular. Its presence would attract international sustainability exhibitions to Auckland's waterfront and more...





A different vision. Auckland as the First Pacific City, the world's biggest polynesian city. These images of Auckland's waterfront - emphasising Queens Wharf - imagine a future where Auckland decides to project an authentic image, visible to all as Cruise Ships arrive and berth. Pacific Guardians greet visitors. Each on its own wharf. Designs commissioned. Skinned in bronze. Auckland's Statues - not of Liberty - but Guardians of the Sea, the Sun and the People. Each statue might encase a 15 storey building. Their presence would set the scene for an urban and design renaissance...



 

So, what's up at Queens Wharf now (July - 2008?

Read ARC Chair & Deputy Chair's vision announced in a NZ Herald Opinion Piece. The NZ Herald then ran a feedback session on this, and public opinions are worth a read: Readers Respond. Also useful is the NZ Herald opinion piece by Matthew Bradbury who writes about the history of Queens Wharf. He argues for: Cruise Ships and a Park.

Read ARC Councillor Joel Cayford's unpublished account of ARC Waterfront Governance, and his later unpublished opinion About Queens Wharf project.

Here you can see an Auckland University Masters Student project on Queens Wharf (5 Meg). The objective was to prepare an Urban Design Framework for Queens Wharf redevelopment. While some rough designs are presented - the main thrust of the project was to analyse what is happening on Auckland's waterfront now - and build on that awareness for Queens Wharf. This is a morphological look at Auckland's waterfront. It emphasises the need to provide quality public places. It draws on best practice urban design approaches referred to in this essay.

Queens Wharf in 1899 - working wharf - walking wharf.

Joel Cayford owns copyright on all graphics & html on this website.
Joel Cayford email: mailto:joelc@kiwilink.co.nz